Running gear for wagons



Oct. .25, 1927.

1,647,047 F. M. KENNEDY RUNNING GEAR FOR WAGONS Filed May 12. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Oct; 25,1927.- 1,647,04 7

F. M. KENNEDY RUNNING GEAR FOR WAGONS Filed May 12. 1926 2 Sheets-She 2 I I INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES FRANK MARION KENNEDY, or CLARENDON, ARKANSAS.

' RUNNING GEAR FOR WAGONS.

Application filed May 12,

This invention relates to an improved running gear for wagons, and among the ObJQCtS of the invention are the elimination of the use of wagon hounds, sway bars and the like; the provision of a flexible jolnt between the front and rearaxleassembhes; the provision of a novel, effective and properly braced mounting for the rocking bolster mounted above the front axle assembly in spaced relation to the front axle assembly or to the sand board in the event a sand board is employed, and the simplification of the fifth wheel arrangement.

A further object is to provide a running gear for wagons having these advantages and which is of'simple and durable construe tion, reliable and efiicient in operation and easy and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features .of the construction, arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. forming a part of thls specification, and in which Figure l is a view partly in sideelevat on and partly in sectionshowing the 1nvent1on embodied in a running gear employlng a front axle assembly of special construction,

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof, Figure 3 is a view similar .to Fig. 1 but showing the invention embodied 1n a running gear employing the'ordinary type of axle and sand board," 1

Figure 4 shows a preferredmode of bracing the yoke,

Figure 5 is a detail view of the shoulder bolt employed in connection with the braces for the bolster, I

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail view in elevation showing a modified form of connection between the yoke and the reach rod, and

Figure 7 illustrates anothermodified form of this feature. p

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, 1t will be seen that the running gear embodying the present invention'comprises in all of the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 4 a metal yoke 1 having a body portion 2 and spaced arms 3 extending ferwardly of the body 1301' tion. fllhis nature is substantially the same that a 1 4. although ordinary cotter pin.

1926. Serial No. 108,587.

shape and size of the parts may be somewhat varied. and smooth rear face and abuts a similarly formed face provided on the front of the body portion l of a U-shaped bracket,-des ignated generally at 5, and including in addition to the body portion l spaced arms 6 Which extend rearwardly from the body portion and whichare secured by bolts and nuts 7 or other suitable fastening means to a reach rod 8.

Means is provided for pivotally connecting therbody portion 2 ofthe yoke 1 to the body portion 4 of the bracket 5 and this means comprises a pivot bolt 9 having its head 10 engaged with a rectangular washer ll engaged with the corners defined by the arms and body portion of the yoke. The shank 12 0f the pivotv bolt extends through the opening of the washer 11 and through aligned pivot openings in the body'portions 2' and4 and also throughthe opening of the washer 13 similar to the washer 11 and engaged in the corners defined by the body portion 4 and arms6 of the bracket'5. A nut 14: lS threaded on the shank 12' of the bolt 9 and holds the bolt againstdisplacement' The nut 14 may be castellated and secured against displacement by means of the The forward ends of the arms 3 of the yoke straddle the front axle assembly and the simplifiedfifth wheel arrangement.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a special form'of axle assembly is illustrated and preferably is of the construction fully shown and described in my prior Patent No. 1,575,064, granted March 2, Y

1926 and as in the patented construction the axle assembly embodies a flatly {disposed beam 15 and a vertically disposed beam 16 which are united to the bases of the axle spindleby means of a tie rod 18 as more clearly set-forth in the patent referred to. On the vertically disposed beam 16 a single fifth Wheel comprising an annular metal plate 19 is supported, this'fifth wheel being braced by means of brace bars 20 fastened to the fifth wheel and to the flatly disposed beam 15.

The body portion 2 presents a flat In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 1 the axle assembly is of the usual ty' eand includes the usual axle beam 21 ts W ich the axle spindles (net 2 t oiiiiegt'ed'iii the usual fasliit it axle 21 a sand the. annular plate is enlarged laterally, as at 23 since this portion 3 constitutes the other member of: the fifth wheel. In Fig. 4: the forward ends of the arms 3 are strengthened bybending or doubling the material of'the xarm back upon itself, as indicated at 3 On top ofthe forward end of the upper arm 3 of the yoke-a rocking bolster 25 is mounted. The bolster, yoke and front axle assembly careiallpivotally connected by means of the I usual kingbolt26 extending through aligned .bolt holes in the bolster, the arms of the yoke-andthe. elements of the axle assembly.

larger-than the bolts. vster to rock with the body of the wagon :when the front axle twists relative to the The bolster 25- rests "on thc'forward end 3 vof thewupper arm 3 of the'yoke land is braced and held-in proper position by means of: a'pair of braces 27 and a V-shaped brace 28. Onebrace27 is arranged forwardly of :the bolster and'the other rearwardly thereof,

the upper ends of the two braces 27 being fastened to the bolster by common fastening .means, suchas bolts and nuts-29. The lower ends of the braces 27 are secured to the upper aarm 3 yof the yoke by bolts 30 of special con- ;struction. 'Nuts3l serve to'hold the bolts30 ,in position. Thearms 32 of the V-shaped brace :28are secured by bolts and nuts 33 to the bolster, as shown in Fig.2, and the apex ofzthis V-shaped'brace is fastened to the inpper-arm 3 ofthe-yoke by meansof a bolt similarto thebolt 30 and a nut similar to thenut 31. It is usually desirable for the bolster tohave-a capacity for limited movement relative to the yoke and for this pur- ;pose the'openings in the braces '27 and 28 through whichthebolts 30 pass are slightly This permits the bolg rearaaxle, the king bolt aperture being sufli- ,c'iently large for this purpose. It is always .desirable for the bolster to remainin substantial parallelism with the rear axle and this capacity is had because of the pivotal connection between the yoke connected with the front axle assembly and the reach and ,becausetheibraces may move to a slight'extent at least relative to the bolts which fasten .them .to the yoke.

Preferablytheyoke is braced as shown in Fig.4 inorder to maintain the body portion .2 against distortion. The rocking bolster .a'nd the rod on the Wagon hasa tendency to lerchforward or backward and spring the arms of the yoke from the bot y portion thereof, thereby impairing the connection between the yoke and the reach. The bracing shown in Fig. 4 prevents distortion of the yoke particularly at its body portion and this bracing consists of bolts 40 and 4-1, the bolt 4.1 conveniently replacing the bolt 30 which otherwise would be employedbetween the V-shaped brace 28 and the upper arm 3 of "the yoke. The bolts 40 and 41' pass through apertured' and offset end portions 42 and 43, respectively, ofa brace bar 44 positioned between the arms 3 of the yoke. Sleeves 4.5 and to fit over'theshanks of the bolts and engage the ends 42 and 43, respecmay be interposed betweenthe nuts andthe adjacent face of the lower bar 3.

If it is not desirable tov employ a'piv'otal *connection'between the yoke and the reach "rod '8 the bars of the yoke may :bevmerged 'lIltOwGttCll other, as shown in'FigL6, the'bars 'ofkthe yoke being 'designatediat 6O and-61 and being; shown as merging into an attaching bracket 62 bolted, as at 63, to the reach rod; 8. The forward endsi-ofthe arms of theyoke, are connectediup withthe fifth wheel arrangement, the front axle'assembly and the-bolster, as in the 'OtllGIlfOll'l'lS ofthe invention. Another modified form of attachment ofthe yoke to the reach: rod is shown 'in Fig. 7. In Fig. 7'the'yoke:isreplaced by spaced bars-65 and 66 which have their-rear ends flatly engaged with the reach rod 8 aancl which is-secured to thevreach-rod 8 by means of boltsand'nuts 67. In this' form'of the invention the forward end of the reach rod 1s made to constitute the body .portion of the yoke.

.I claim ..l.'A 'runningzgear for-wagons having a metal yoke including ia body portion and arms extending forwardly from the body portion, the body portion having a flat -rear faceof substantial area and apivotal con nection at the rear end of the yoke adapted to pivotally connect the same to the; reach rod and comprising a; \U-shaped "bracket having a body, portion provided "with afiat for ward face flatly engaging the rear face of the body portion of the yoke, a pivot-bolt andinut for pivotally securing thebody portion of the yoke to the bodyiportion of the bracket, the bracket havingmeans whereby it may besecured to'the reach rod.

2. A running gear for wagons having a metal yoke including a body portion and arms extending forwardly from the body portion, the body portion having a flat rear face of substantial areaand a pivotal connection at the rear end of the yoke adapted to pivotally connectzthesameto the reachrod and comprising a U-shaped bracket having a body portion provided with a flat forward face flatly engaging the rear face of the body portion of the yoke, a pivot bolt and a nut forv pivotally securing the body portion of the yoke to the body portion of the bracket, the bracket having means whereby it may be secured to the reach rod, and brac-. ing washers mounted on the pivot bolt and engaging the corners of the bracket and yoke to brace the engaging body portions thereof.

3. A running gear for wagons having a metal yoke including a body portion adapted to be connected to the reach rod, arms adapted to straddle the front axle assembly, and means carried by the upper arm'of the yoke and adapted to rockably support a bolster thereon.

4. A running gear for wagons having a metal yoke including a body portion adapted to be connected to the reach rod, arms adapted to straddle the front axle assembly, and braces connected to the upper arm of the yoke and adapted to be connected to a bolster.

5. A running gear for wagons having a metal yoke including a body portion adapted to be connected to the reach rod, arms adapted to straddle the front axle assembly, and braces connected to the upper arm of the yoke and adapted to be connected to a bol ster, one of said braces being of ll-shaped form.

6. A running gear for wagons having a metal yoke including a body portion adapted to be connected to the reach rod, arms adapted to straddle the front axle assembly, braces, bolts for fastening the braces to the yoke, the braces having bolt holes slightly larger than the bolts to permit relative movement of the braces relative to the yoke,

said braces being adapted to be attached to v a bolster.

7. A running gear for wagons having a front axle assembly, and an annular plate connected with said assembly and constituting the lower element of a fifth Wheel, a yoke adapted to be connected to the reach and having a pair of arms, the lower arm extending below the axle assembly and the upper arm engaging the annular plate and constituting the upper element of the fifth and means for pivotally connecting the yoke with the axle assembly.

9. A running gear for wagons comprising a front axle assembly, a fifth wheel connected thereto, a yoke adapted to be connected to a reach and having forwardly extending arms, the lower 111111 underlying the axle assembly, the uper arm overlying the fifth wheel, a bolster positioned on said upper arm, means for p-ivotally interconnecting the bol ster, yoke and axle assembly, and means for interconnecting the bolster and upper arm and for exerting a mutual bracing action on the same.

10. A running gear for wagons including a front axle assembly, a fifth wheel arrangement connected thereto, and a reach rod and comprising a yoke, a pivotal connection between the rear end of the yoke and the reach rod, the forward end of the lower arm of the yoke engaging the underside of the front axle assembly, the forward end of the up per arm of the yoke engaging the upper side of the fifth wheel arrangement, a. bolster resting on the upper arm of the yoke, means for pivc-tally interconnecting the bolster yoke and front axle assembly,and braces between the bolster and the upper arm of the yoke.

11. A running gear for wagons including a front axle assembly, a. fifth wheel arrangement connected thereto, and a reach rod and comprising a yoke, a connection between the rear end of the yoke and the reach rod, the forward end of the lower arm of the yoke engaging the underside of the front axle assembly, the forward end of the upper arm of the yoke engaging the upper side of the fifth wheel arrangement, ,a bolster resting on the upper arm of the yoke, means for pivotally interconnecting the bolster yoke and front axle assembly, and braces between the bolster and the upper arm of the yoke.

12. A running gear for wagons including a front axle assembly, a fifth wheel arrangement connected thereto, a reach rod and comprising a yoke, a connection between the rear end of the yoke and the reach rod, the forward end of the lower arm of the yoke engaging the underside of the front axle assembly, the forward end of the upper-arm of the yoke engaging the upper side of the fifth wheel arrangement, a bolster resting on the upper arm of the yoke, means for pivot-ally interconnecting the bolster yoke and front axle assembly, and braces between the bolster and the upper arm of the yoke, certain of said braces engaging the 'npper arm of the yoke at points which overlie the surfaces of the upper arm of the yoke engaged with the fifth wheel arrangement.

13. A running gear for wagons including a front axle assembly, a fifth wheel arrangement connected thereto, a reach rod and comprising a yoke, a connection between the zen rear end of the yoke and the reach rod, the

forward end of the lower arm of the yoke engaging the underside of the front axle assenibly,- the forward end of the upper arm of the yoke engaging the upper side of the liith wheel arrangement, a bolster resting on the upper arm of the yoke, means for pivotally interconnecting the bolster yoke and front axle assembly, braces between the bolster and the upper arm of the yoke, the braces having connections with the yoke permitting relative movement to permit of limited rocking of the bolster.

14. A running gear for wagons including a metal yoke having-a body portion and forwardly directed arms, a pivotal connection between the body portion and the reach, the 'fOIWMCl ends of the arms being adapted to be connected with the front axle assembly of the wagon, and means for bracing the arms to maintain'them improper relation and to PYGVQDU'CllStOltlOIl of the bo'dypor- 'tion.

15. A running gear for wagons including a metal yoke having a body portion and forwardly directed arms, a pivotal connection between the body portion and thereach, the forward ends of the arms being adapted to be connected with the front axlev assembly of the wagon, means for bracing the arms to maintain them in proper relation and to revent distortion of the body portion and including a brace bar extending between the arms, bolts interconnected with the arms and with'the brace baryand sleeves mounted on the bolts and connected with the brace bar to holdvthe brace bar inposition and to supplement its bracing action on thearms.

FRANK 'MARION KENNEDY. 

